‘No-Hassle Flying Act’ Could Mean Fewer Baggage Checks

The "No-Hassle Flying Act" will allow TSA authorities to use their own discretion when rescreening bags arriving from international flights into the U.S. saving time for passengers. Image credit: Daniel Acker/Bloomberg/Getty Images

It’s a situation most air travelers have found themselves in when flying international–the agony of checking your bag twice.

Just in time for the busy holiday travel season, new legislation awaits the president’s signature on a bill that could make air travel easier for those flying into the U.S. on international flights.

On Wednesday, the U.S. House passed the “No-Hassle Flying Act,” a bill that would allow Transportation Security Administration officials to waive rescreening conditions and use their discretion for baggage arriving in the U.S. from international airports who apply similar baggage security requirements and equipment.

TSA recently released a statement saying the “TSA has proposed similar provisions to those contained in the ‘No-Hassle Flying Act of 2012′ and supports the proposed legislation, as it will greatly improve the customer experience and improve efficiency for cross-border travel.”

The bill, first introduced in September, is sponsored by Sens. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) in an effort to reduce the amount of delays passengers face when checking their bags a second time.

“As thousands of Americans travel internationally this holiday season, too many will have to deal with the hassle of rescreening their luggage,” said Klobuchar. “Requiring luggage to undergo the exact same screening process twice in one trip puts a burden on both our international aviation security system and travelers.”

Proponents hope the bill will cut down on the amount time passengers would need to reach their connecting flights while freeing up space for other passengers making their way through busy U.S. airports.

Although this act will change the way TSA operates, it will not affect luggage screening for the U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Right now, the CBP has listed 14 international airports with pre-clearance baggage requirements and equipment similar to the baggage security system in place within the U.S. Those international pre-clearance locations are in Canada, the Caribbean and Ireland.